My 10 Favorite Songs by Ex-Beatles

The Beatles are so influential to musicians and fans alike, but a lot of people overlook their solo output. Earlimart spend a lot of time listening to those post-breakup records on the road, particularly All Things Must Pass, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, McCartney, and Ram. Although all of the Beatles strayed into questionable territory during their solo careers, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney each also displayed tremendous creativity and talent. And good ol' Ringo Starr-- well, he kept it light and made us smile.

When compiling my list, I skipped over the bigger hits, focused on their earlier output, and made a mixtape of my favorites. These are songs I'd share with a friend who has only heard the Beatles as opposed to a Beatle.

"Isn't It a Pity", George Harrison [from All Things Must Pass] Whether stripped down to acoustic guitar and vox or layered with either of its two full productions on All Things Must Pass, "Isn't It a Pity" showcases the majesty of Harrison's songwriting. A great chord progression and melody is coupled with sad and striking lyrics: "How we take each other's love/ Without giving anymore/ Forgetting to give back/ Isn't it a pity?"

The song is a mix of common major chords and some not-so-common diminished chords ("naughty" ones as Harrison called them). The Beatles had become great chord-smiths, breaking away from music that could be described as simply either major or minor.

"Love", John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band [from the self-titled LP] Much like "Mother", this song is as emotionally honest as "rock" lyrics can get. It's a reminder that everyone wants to be loved, and deep down we're all afraid. And that's OK.

"Beware of Darkness" (acoustic version), George Harrison [from All Things Must Pass: 30th Anniversary Edition] The solo acoustic versions of the All Things Must Pass tunes are some of my favorite songs. If the acoustic version of the title track hadn't ended up on the Anthology, it would have topped this list. The three-album vinyl issue of this record got me through a really down time in my life. This version from the reissued CD definitely shed new light on what I love about this song. The title says it all.

"Jealous Guy", John Lennon [from Imagine] I always loved that Lennon embraced the ugly side of his personality through his music. He wasn't afraid to show his or anyone else's faults, and in his post-Beatles career he went straight for the throat-- whether he was addressing Paul, war, or heroin addiction, Lennon pulled no punches.

"Every Night", Paul McCartney [from McCartney] My friend and bandmate Ariana Murray turned me on to this song while we were on the road. It made me miss being home with the one person that I wanted to be at home with, and has became one of my favorite road songs. It's really as simple as that.

"Isolation", John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band [from the self-titled LP] I've been working to become a better piano player, and this stark and direct song is one of my favorites to perform. There is so much power in simplicity. I've always loved this song, and seeing a live Spoon rendition a few years ago reminded me just how great it is.

"Momma Miss America", Paul McCartney [from McCartney] Paul's first solo record is full of so many interesting songs, and this instrumental tune smokes. McCartney had something to prove with this record-- he wanted the world to know that he wasn't just a saccharine pop balladeer. Or: Maybe he just wanted to prove it to Lennon. Either way, I really like the weirder things on the McCartney and Ram albums: mouth percussion, Paul's sloppy drumming, Linda McCartney's backup vocals.

"Mrs. Vanderbilt", Paul McCartney and Wings [from Band on the Run] "Ho!...Hey, ho!" Great stuff. McCartney is having a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. A perfect song to sing along with: "What's the use of worrying?/ What's the use of anything?" Those are important lyrics to hear when you're taking yourself too seriously.

"I Got My Mind Set On You", George Harrison [from Cloud 9] I wish Harrison's big return to the spotlight hadn't been a cover song, but when I was younger I really dug this tune. And I still do! Plus, in the video "George" gets out of a chair and does a flip. Fun song and a great drum sound. Infectious.

"It Don't Come Easy", Ringo Starr [from Ringo's Best] I guess Starr's solo career didn't interest me as much as the others' because he seemed so focused on the past. This song is great, though, and it makes me smile when I hear it on the radio. In 1971, the most likable Beatle was already taking a jab at himself by putting out an album called Ringo's Best. I think an uncredited George Harrison had a lot to do with this song. In fact, I could swear I'm hearing a "Hare Krishna" thrown in during the solo...

Multi-instrumentalist Joel Graves is a member of Earlimart and the co-owner of New Monkey Studios in Los Angeles.